Slicing is bringing the club head across the line of flight with the forward swing so that a left to right spin is given the ball.

This is done either by pulling in the arms with the concussion, or by facing so far around that the club head naturally swings across the line of flight.

When a ball is travelling through the air without any spin, the pressure of the air resisting its flight being the same on both sides, the line of flight is obviously a straight one ; but, when the ball is rotating from left to right, the left side is moving to meet the air while the right side is moving away from it. The ball, consequently, encounters more pressure on the left than on the right side, and, by the laws of dynamics, it travels on the line of least resistance and necessarily curves to the right, the greater curve at the end of its flight not being because of any increase in spin but due to the fact that, as the pressure to the forward flight becomes less, the difference in pressure on the two sides becomes comparatively more.

Look out on the right!

(42)

a b - The forward momentum of the ball.

d e

f g

h

k

The pressure of the air when the ball is travelling without any spin; i. e., when the pressure on the two sides counteract each other.

m - The line of flight when the ball has no spin and the air is pressing equally on both sides.

n o - The relative forward impetus on the two sides n p of the ball because of the left to right spin given it by slicing, the left to right spin on the left hand side being the forward impetus with the spin resisting the forward flight of the ball, and on the right hand side without the spin affecting the forward flight.

n s - The resultant of the two forces n o and n p without the force a b, as shown by the parallelogram n o s p.

a s - The resultant of the two forces a b and n s, as shown by the parallelogram a n s t; i. e.,a s being the line of flight of a sliced ball.

Although not technically slicing, a ball is said to be sliced when it is driven to the right of the intended line of flight without any curve.

A ball is sliced in this way :

(1) By standing so far to the left that the ball is hit to the left of the centre.

(2) By allowing the wrists to work so freely, that the arms and hands come around in advance of the club head so that, when the ball is hit, the face is at an acute angle to the line of flight.

a - the way the ball should have been hit.

b - foundered.

c - heeled and sliced.

d - sliced.

e - toed and sliced.

Suggestions

As slicing is caused generally by not swinging the right shoulder weil down, stand with the right foot further away from the ball in order to bring the shoulder into the downward swing more.

As a sliced ball starts away high, it is often desirable to slice it in order to get over an obstacle in the line of flight. In playing for a slice, stand with the right foot nearer the ball and swing in a circle instead of an ellipse.

Often a ball, having a good lie but with rising ground so close in front of it that an iron would ordinarily be used, can be sliced with a driver, a brassy, or a cleek so that it not only clears the obstacle but gets distance.

To Avoid Slicing

Do not shrink from the ball or pull in the arms.

Stand with the right foot further away from the ball.

Do not let the arms and hands come around so quickly.

Grip tighter with the left hand and looser with the right.

Use a half swing and follow through.